Tasteful Tuesday

Thank goodness I made dinner last night, my mom ended up having to work. Too bad she missed out.

I made a dish called Pastitsio (I don't know how to pronouce it but I am assuming it is an italian dish. It took roughly an hour to make.

Pastitsio

8 ounces uncooked ziti or elbow macaroni

1 pound ground beef or lamb (or even turkey)

1/2 cup chopped onion (I did not use this do to picky eaters)

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped

8 ounce can of tomato sauce

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves

1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups of milk

1 egg, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2.Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and reserve.

3. Cook and stir meat, onion (if using any) and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain fat. Stir in tomato sauce, oregano, pepper and cinnamon. Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 mins.

- I cooked the pasta while cooking the meat to save time

4. Layer 1/2 of pasta in baking dish. Top with meat mixture and then remaining pasta.

5. For sauce, melt butter in medium saucepan. Stir in flour. Cook and stir 1 min. Whisk in milk. Cook, stirring constantly until thickened, about 6 mins. Place beaten egg in small bowl; stir some of the sauce into egg. Return egg mixture to saucepan; cook and stir 2 mins. Stir in 3/4 cup of parmesan cheese.

6. Pour sauce mixture over pasta layer. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4cup of paremsan cheese. Bake 30-40 mins until heated through and golden brown.

Recipe from Home-Tested Casserole Recipes

 

 

 

http://recklesschef.net/2008/12/08/my-big-fat-greek-pastitisio/

Hope you enjoy this just as much as we did!!